The Tolkien Professor

Prof Corey Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert wander around Dol Guldur and consider how Azog and his little boy will take part in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

Prof Corey Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert talk Dale politics and consider how the enigmatic Bard will be portrayed in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaugh

Trish Lambert and Laura Berkholtz review reader's comments and analyst opinions on Riddle 2.03 dealing with the elves of Mirkwood and their defences against the evil encroaching on their land.

Prof Corey Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert enter the Hall of the Elven King to consider how events will unfold there in "The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug."

Trish Lambert and Laura Berkholtz review reader's comments and analyst opinions on Riddle 2.02 dealing with the fate of Thrain, Thorin's father.

The thirty-third session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering the Allkalabeth, Part 3

The thirty-second session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering the Allkalabeth, Part 2

At long last, the much anticipated, recording-breaking 3-hour RITD Christmas Special! The trio fully debriefs The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and the results of our RITD game. Featuring bizarre background noises, sometimes terrible audio quality, and a special guest (in spirit, at least). Merry Christmas...three months late!

Trish Lambert and Laura Berkholtz review reader's comments and analyst opinions on Riddle 2.01 dealing with Beorn's relationship to the goblins.

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert tap into their spidey senses to consider Mirkwood's arachnids in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaugh.

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert stroke imaginary beards over how Mirkwood will be portrayed in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, and how the Elves will relate to the forest.

The thirty-first session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering the Allkalabeth, Part 1

The thirtieth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering Chapter 24 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Voyage of Earendil and the War of Wrath, Part 2"

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert wonder what happened to Thrain and what we will learn about him in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: Desoloation of Smaug.

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert consider Beorn, his place in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, and his possilbe role in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: Desoloation of Smaug.

Prof Cory Olsen offers his thoughts on Peter Jackson's first Hobbit film and its adaptation from J.R.R. Tolkien's book. Major themes and minor questions are all considered, and offer the listener an opportunity to understand Jackson's work at a deeper level.

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert review a year's worth of riddles for Movie 1.

Prof Cory Olsen and Dave Kale respond to the listeners by discussing the winning topic: The White Council. Which inevitably leads to talk of Saruman.

Conclusion - Recorded 05/04/11.

Garth Nix, "Sabriel", Chapter 24 - Epilogue Recorded 05/02/11.

In this musical version of Riddles in the Dark, Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert get down and get funky talking about the songs and poems in The Hobbit: book, animated feature, and upcoming film.

Garth Nix, "Sabriel", Chapter 18 - 23 Recorded 04/29/11.

Garth Nix, "Sabriel", Chapter 12 - 17 Recorded 04/27/11.

The twenty-ninth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering Chapter 24 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Voyage of Earendil and the War of Wrath, Part 1"

After some time looking at some of the media articles that have been showing up about Jackson and his movie, Prof. Corey Olsen and Dave Kale (and Trish Lambert in more than a cameo appearance) consider the Rings of Power in the context of Tolkien's work and in the context of the Lord of the Rings films.

Dave Kale and Trish Lambert review Orcs, Radagast, and toy figures in this digest episode, among other things. A collage of Comic-Con interview excerpts with Richard Armitage gives rise to this episode's condundrum.

The twenty-eigth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering Chapter 23 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"

Talk turns to the bad guys in this episode. After checking out the most recent movie scroll, Prof. Corey Olsen and Dave Kale (with Trish chiming in from time to time) consider the Goblin-infested poster as well as the toy sets of the "Goblin King," Bolg, and Grinnah. Then it is on to the Big Bad himself and how he will be portrayed on screen in the first movie.

Garth Nix, "Sabriel", Chapter 6 - 11 Recorded 04/25/11.

The twenty-sixth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering the third part of Chapter 21 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Turin Turambar"

The twenty-seventh session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering Chapter 22 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Ruin of Dorian"

It is a first-time "group episode" as Prof. Corey Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert are joined by a panel of analysts and experts who are playing the prediction. Broadcast as part of the Middle-earth Network Hobbt Day festivities, the panel conversation centered on the new movie trailer, covering critical issues that included spider legs, tree roots, Fabio Bilbo, and hedgehog acupressure.

Garth Nix, "Sabriel", Prologue - Chapter 5, Recorded 04/22/11.

Peter S. Beagle, "The Last Unicorn", Chapters 12-14, Recorded 04/20/11.

Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert consider Radagast the Brown as he appears in The Hobbit and other Tolkien works, and as he might appear in Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy. They then turn the conversation to the new Apple movie app (with its edited movie scroll).

Dave Kale and Trish Lambert review Riddles in the Dark episodes 14 and 15, covering Bilbo's escape from the Misty Mountains and the idea of talking animals in Peter Jackson's first Hobbit film. Plus they check out the new movie app and talk about whether the abbreviated scene scroll means anything serious.

Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen and Dave Kale talk about goblins and orcs as they appear in Tolkien's book and then consider the role these groups will play in Peter Jackson's films. Plus there are bonuses included!

Welcome to The Riddles in the Dark Digest Controversy episode! Dave and Trish relook at RITD Episode 13 (about Comic-Con), respond to critical commenters, and finally get around to considering the Nazgul, adding in a bonus at the end of the digest...Dave's Nazgul conversation with Fr. Roderick from the Secrets of The Hobbit podcast.

Dave Kale and Trish Lambert talk Gollum, first talking about the now-answered-by-Andy-Serkis riddle presented in Riddles in the Dark episode 11, then sharing analyst, listener, and their own opinions about the actual riddle game discussed in Riddles in the Dark episode 12.

In the fifth episode of Riddles in the Dark Digest, co-hosts Dave Kale and Trish Lambert share analyst and listener comments about Riddles in the Dark episodes 9 & 10. True to RITD tradition, our verbose co-hosts wander among other topics as well, including the possibility of Bilbo hallucinating during the Unexpected Party.

Peter S. Beagle, "The Last Unicorn", Chapters 9-11, Recorded 04/18/11.

Prof. Olsen and Dave discuss talking animals. After all, that's what the Hobbit is all about, right? The films will probably be rife with them! They also speculate about how much screen time the eagles will receive.

The twenty-fifth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering the second part of Chapter 21 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Turin Turambar"

Prof. Olsen and Dave discuss more character development stuff, Bilbo and the Company's escape from the goblin tunnels of the Misty Mountains, and the possibilities for developing Bilbo's character by changing the story. OK, fine. Maybe they also talk about the trilogy.

Did you know that J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs were both released in 1937? Coincidence? Or not? Join Professor Olsen and Trish Lambert in a conversation about these two works and the men who made them in a new Tolkien Chat format called "Pipeweed on the Porch."

Mythgard students and faculty attending the Tolkien Society's Return of the Ring conference with Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen come together to talk about their impressions and insights so far

The twenty-forth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering the first part of Chapter 21 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Turin Turambar"

The twenty-third session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering Chapter 20 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad."

Peter S. Beagle, "The Last Unicorn", Chapters 5-8, Recorded 04/15/11.

Digest co-host Trish joins Prof. Olsen and Dave as they cover all things Hobbit and Comic-Con. And Christopher Tolkien! They set a new record for episode length all the while.